Study Music.

Today's addition to the study soundtrack:  Clair de Lune

Art + Fashion!

Italian Architect Gaetano Pesce has created these shoes for the Brazilian brand, Melissa.

The Coolest thing about these seemingly henious pebble shoes is that you can cut away at the "pebbles" of the bootie to create anything you can possible dream of: flats, peep-toe flats, peep-toe boots, sandals, mary janes... and the list goes on with creativity.  

Apparently the entire Melissa brand is built on plastic shoes and famous collaborations (the Vivienne Westwood like is super-whimsy and fun).  Delightful for the vegan-fashionista in all of us.  Hopefully I'll be able to pick up a pair of these stateside or some of the others of the line:

Like these Melissa + Campana, or 

these Melissa + Vivienne Westwood

Study Music.

As the bar frantically approaches, I find myself searching for the perfect study soundtrack.
I have decided that track One shall be Bolero- See the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing the second half(ish) below:

New Look

I think I know what those kids who wore all black in high school felt like.  They just didn't want to look like everyone else.  I moved back to North Texas 5 weeks ago.  I was sailing on the elation of my graduation.  My hair was bouncy, blonde, and everything a Texas girl strives for.  I delighted in wearing cutesy dresses, pearls and flats.
Fast Forward 5 weeks.  I just dyed my hair dark brown two days ago to stand out from the hoards of Dallas blondes in barbri.  If my Ohio friends would have seen my outfit today, they would have been shocked.  I don't know if it's the bar exam review or the North Texas culture shock that has me running so frantically from prep to hipster.  Maybe (hopefully) it will all level out again.  On that slightly soul baring note concerning the evolution of my personal style, I am drawn to look for new pieces and accessories for my look.  Some basics I'm already sporting are:

J. Crew's vintage slim jeans (but in a darker wash, obvs)

Dior's Creme de Gloss (in red, to off-set the dark hair)

...an oversized T from this place

and my dad's vintage wayfarers.

Some pieces I'd like to add to the collection:

Steven Alan's Checked cotton boyfriend Shirt

Alexander McQueen (may he rest in peace) Silk Skull Scarf

Mike & Chris Maguire studded leather jacket

making it a job to get a job...

The Times published an article yesterday called, 'In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That".  It chronicles to a tee the games schools play so that more of their students will get jobs post-law school.  I found particularly entertaining (and sickening) SMU's practice of paying Dallas firms to hire their students.  Perhaps this is why certain law firms are not hiring any 3Ls who are not from SMU.  
Law Schools are now engaged in a frightful race-to-the-top make their students look more attractive.  Will Loyola Law School's students look more attractive to employers after this?  I doubt it.  The article does point out that some firms follow Above the Law's reports on schools changing grading system and take that into affect when hiring... but some do not.  
The hope for those still in law school (especially with the traditional grading curve) seems to remain in Journal activity and Moot Court teams.  Firms say that they can usually tell a student's rank based on these factors without even looking at a G.P.A. Some other highlights from the article appear below:

"In the last two years, at least 10 law schools have deliberately changed their grading systems to make them more lenient. These include law schools like New York University and Georgetown, as well as Golden Gate University and Tulane University, which just announced the change this month." 

A Dallas family law firm will receive $3,500 to “test drive” him this August.

"It is unclear whether grade inflation is particularly effective at helping students get jobs, especially because many large firms adjust their expectations accordingly."

"These moves can create a vicious cycle like that seen in chief executive pay: if every school in the bottom half of the distribution raises its marks to enter the top half of the distribution, or even just to become average, the average creeps up. This puts pressure on schools to keep raising their grades further."

Tardy Glee Post

Study Break.  I cannot express how much I loved the Glee finale!  I'm super sad that they didn't win, but super happy about the buildup (or should I say Journey) to Regionals Next year!  I loved the Journey Medley and think that the version of 'Don't Stop Believing' was infinitely better on the finale than on the first show (mostly because someone other than Fin and Rachel were highlighted).  I cannot wait for more Puck, Santana, Rachel, Fin, Artie, Quinn, Mr. Schuester, Mercedes, and mostly Kurt and Sue Sylvester next Season!
Enjoy the Season Finale show-stopper Medley below (which was way far better than Vocal Adrenaline's!)

Fathers' Day

At the Emerson Haus, we spent Father's day enjoying the DSM production of Wicked.  It was a really good cast and we had a wonderful time.  Until next year, Happy Fathers' Day, Dad!  We Love you!

A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold